HTC to release wrist wearable — not a smartwatch — in the first quarter of 2015

HTC has been talking about releasing some kind of wrist wearable for some time now, and a company spokesperson has now told VentureBeat that HTC will finally pull the trigger during the first quarter of 2015. But the device is not a smartwatch.

HTC said the new device will be shown off at CES in Las Vegas in early January, but will not be formally launched then.

HTC will work closely with other companies who have already done significant work in developing apps for activities such as fitness, but the executive we spoke with would not disclose who those partners are.

In the past, HTC has spoken about releasing a full-blown smartwatch, but it’s never appeared. The company’s chairwoman, Cher Wang, said in February that an HTC smartwatch would be out by the holiday season this year.

Other reports said HTC had scrapped the development of a smartwatch in the face of strong competition in the category from the likes of the Apple Watch and Samsung’s Gear watches. This may be true, but HTC is apparently still eager to release some sort of a wearable.

The spokesperson said that the new wearable will be very different from anything currently on the market, but would not divulge details.